Mike Gundy thinks Mike Yurcich has become too good for him to hide any longer

I wrote Saturday night about Oklahoma State’s offense and how the Cowboys are handling an unimpressive schedule as impressively as possible. For some context to those numbers, consider that Oklahoma State ranks:

3rd in total offense (607 yards per game)

3rd in yards per play (8.55)

t-2nd in scoring (54 points per game, minimum of three games)

6th in passing efficiency (201.87)

4th in yards per attempt (11.1)

14th in yards per carry (5.50, minimum of 100 carries)

5th in third down conversions (56.41 percent)

15th in first downs per game (27)

t-3rd in plays of 20-plus yards (25)

And on and on it goes.

Keep in mind the Cowboys have only played their starting offense for a little over eight of a possible 12 quarters. These are the perils of holding halftime leads of 38-17, 20-0 and 49-14.

Following Saturday’s 59-21 blowout of Pittsburgh, Pokes head coach Mike Gundy was effusive in his praise of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.

“He very seldom gets his eyes off track of what he’s doing,” he said. “I brought him here to hide him for a few years and it ended up being a good decision. I don’t know that I’ll be able to hide him much longer. He’s pretty dang good at what he does.”

The offensive coordinator job at Oklahoma State has turned into one of the best assistant coaching jobs in all of college football under Mike Gundy. Former occupants of that position include North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora, West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator (and former Southern Miss head coach) Todd Monken. Gundy thinks Yurcich stacks up with each of them.

“Mike is as good as anybody that I’ve had,” he said. “I know a lot of people might debate that or whatever. I have no reason to tell you anything other than he’s really good. He deserves everything he gets. He’s a hard worker. He’s loyal. Dealing with me on offense is not fun, and I’m wrong a lot. He just says ‘Yes, sir’ and goes on down the road, then does what he wants to do a little bit later.

“I cannot say that he’s not a good (head coaching) candidate for somebody.”

If and when Yurcich moves on to his next job, the Oklahoma State offensive coordinator job will be at the front of the line of assistant coaching openings. That will be as much because of Yurcich’s work as it is Fedora, Holgorsen and Monken.

National columnist - Zach joined the staff in 2012...and has been attempting to improve Doug and Scott's writing ability ever since (to little avail). Outside of football season, you can find him watching the San Antonio Spurs reading Game of Thrones fan theories.